Prelinger Archives

View thousands of films from the Prelinger Archives!

Prelinger Archives was founded in 1983 by Rick Prelinger in New York City. Over the next twenty years, it grew into a collection of over 60,000 "ephemeral" (advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur) films. In 2002, the film collection was acquired by the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. Prelinger Archives remains in existence, holding approximately 11,000 digitized and videotape titles (all originally derived from film) and a large collection of home movies, amateur and industrial films acquired since 2002. Its primary collection emphasis has turned toward home movies and amateur films, with approximately 12,000 items held as of Spring 2015. Its goal remains to collect, preserve, and facilitate access to films of historic significance that haven't been collected elsewhere. Included are films produced by and for many hundreds of important US corporations, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, community and interest groups, and educational institutions. Getty Images represents the collection for stock footage sale, and over 6,400 items (representing approximately 4,800 distinct films) are available here.

RIGHTS: Please read the text in the "Rights" box on the left of this page before contacting us with questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Between 2012-2015, we uploaded newer and higher-quality versions of many titles, including one-part files of most films that were previously available only in two or more parts.

The Field Guide to Sponsored Films by Rick Prelinger was published by the National Film Preservation Foundation in January 2007. It describes 452 historically or culturally significant motion pictures commissioned by businesses, charities, advocacy groups, and state or local government units between 1897 and 1980. The annotated filmography features repository information for some 350 titles as well as links to works viewable online. Also included are an introductory essay and name and subject indexes. The book is recommended for all interested in the history of advertising, industrial and sponsored films.

A free copy of the 152-page NFPF publication can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Complete presentation of the banana industry from the clearing of the jungle and the planting to the shipment of the fruit to the American markets.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 13 reviews ) Topics: Agriculture: Bananas, Central America

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Epic history of industrial medicine in the first half of the 20th century, showing how manufacturers and the medical profession came to terms with one another and culminating in GM's rehabilitation program for returned World War II veterans. Directed by Haford Kerbawy.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews ) Topics: Medicine: Industrial medicine, Medicine: Occupational health, World War II: Postwar issues

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Told from the viewpoint of a child, this film emphasizes that children should train themselves in good sleeping habits. In typical "Goofus and Gallant" style, it shows the advantages a well-rested kid has over his poor-sleeping classmate. Dreams are presented as a normal part of sleeping, and there is a funny dream sequence.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews ) Topics: Health and hygiene, Dreams, Sleep

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Ralph learns the five food groups, helping him to eat a balanced diet, and has more fun because of his better health.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 13 reviews ) Topics: Health and hygiene, Food, Nutrition

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Presented by: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service and Bureau State Services. Produced by the Communicable Disease Center in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Muscogee Health Department. 0647 PA8739 Babies and Breadwinnersfavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews ) Topics: Motion Pictures: Government, Health and Hygiene, Medicine: Infectious Diseases

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A Right to Health, Neighborhood Health Centers in Profile. A Production of Professional Arts, Inc. in San Mateo, CA for the Office of Health Affairs and Office of Economic Opportunity. Directed and Produced by David W. Parker, PhD, Written by Parker and William J. Bicknell, M.D., shot and edited by Peter P. Drowne, narrated by Earle Marsh, M.D. 0726 PA8850 Right to Health, Afavoritefavoritefavorite ( 4 reviews ) Topics: Motion Pictures: Sponsored, Health and Hygiene, Medicine: Public Health

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Military training drama showing how the residents of a barracks convince a sloppy soldier to clean up his act. With many folk songs on cleanliness.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews ) Topics: Health and hygiene, Military, Music: Folk

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Dramatization of how photographs are transmitted by wire, an exciting new technology in the 1930s.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 7 reviews ) Topics: Communication: Wirephotos, Media: Newspapers, Technology

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Actress Gale Storm and family take a road trip in their Chevrolet and review the do's and don'ts of auto traveling.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews ) Topics: Tourism, Travelogues, Car culture: General

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Selected for the 2004 National Film Registry of "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant" motion pictures. Famous Civil Defense film for children in which Bert the Turtle shows what to do in case of atomic attack.favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 76 reviews ) Topics: Atomic-nuclear: Civil defense, Animation

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Cinemascope homage to the city of San Francisco made by amateur filmmaker and inventor Tullio Pellegrini.favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 10 reviews ) Topics: san francisco, amateur film, widescreen, Cinemascope, pasta1

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Admonishes Americans that they will lose their country if they let fanaticism and hatred turn them into "suckers." "Let's forget about 'we' and 'they' -- let's think about us!" In the context of the emerging Cold War, this film appears paradoxical.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 18 reviews ) Topics: Prejudice, Cold War, Racism

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Anti-pornography film produced by financier Charles Keating, linking pornography to the Communist conspiracy and the decline of Western civilization.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 83 reviews ) Topics: Culture wars, Sexualities, Pornography

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Siblings Don and Sue show how they keep themselves well groomed throughout the school week and for their Friday night dates.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 6 reviews ) Topics: Social guidance, Health and hygiene

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Complex and disturbing anti-Japanese propaganda film produced to spur the sale of U.S. war bonds. CONTENT ADVISORY: Explicit racism and extreme violence.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 95 reviews ) Topics: World War II: Japan, Propaganda, World War II: Homefront

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One of the best examples of post-World War II social guidance films, with examples of "good" and "bad" girls, proper and improper dating etiquette, courtesy to parents, and an analysis of what makes some people popular and others not. A scream and a sobering document of postwar conformity. Director: Ted Peshak. Cinematography: Bill Rockar. Writers: Robert Chapin and Patricia Kealy. Editor: George Wilbern. Educational adviser: Dr. Alice Sowers, Director, Family Life Institute...favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 51 reviews ) Topics: Social guidance, Teenagers, Gender roles

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Collection of TV commercials significant to the history and development of TV as an advertising medium.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 13 reviews ) Topics: Advertising: Television commercials, Consumerism, Advertising: History

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An American family unable to afford a Thanksgiving turkey reviews the things for which they feel thankful. This patriotic film is unusual in that it does not link freedom and happiness with the pursuit of wealth. Produced with nonprofessional actors in Lawrence, Kansas. Written by Margaret Carlile (Trudy) Travis.favoritefavoritefavorite ( 10 reviews ) Topics: Patriotism, Holidays: Thanksgiving, Families: 1950s

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Animated classic presenting what an atom is, how energy is released from certain kinds of atoms, the peacetime uses of atomic energy and the byproducts of nuclear fission.favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 25 reviews ) Topics: Atomic-nuclear: Energy, Physics, Animation

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U.S. government-produced film defending the World War II internment of Japanese American citizens.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 25 reviews ) Topics: World War II: Japanese Americans: Internment, Racism, Human rights

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Anti-pornography film produced by financier Charles Keating, linking pornography to the Communist conspiracy and the decline of Western civilization.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 47 reviews ) Topics: Culture wars, Sexualities, Pornography

Prelinger Archives was founded in 1983 by Rick Prelinger in New York City. Over the next twenty years, it grew into a collection of over 60,000 "ephemeral" (advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur) films. In 2002, the film collection was acquired by the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. Prelinger Archives remains in existence, holding approximately 11,000 digitized and videotape titles (all originally derived from film) and a large collection of home movies, amateur and industrial films acquired since 2002. Its primary collection emphasis has turned toward home movies and amateur films, with approximately 12,000 items held as of Spring 2015. Its goal remains to collect, preserve, and facilitate access to films of historic significance that haven't been collected elsewhere. Included are films produced by and for many hundreds of important US corporations, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, community and interest groups, and educational institutions. Getty Images represents the collection for stock footage sale, and over 6,400 items (representing approximately 4,800 distinct films) are available here.

RIGHTS: Please read the text in the "Rights" box on the left of this page before contacting us with questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Between 2012-2015, we uploaded newer and higher-quality versions of many titles, including one-part files of most films that were previously available only in two or more parts.

The Field Guide to Sponsored Films by Rick Prelinger was published by the National Film Preservation Foundation in January 2007. It describes 452 historically or culturally significant motion pictures commissioned by businesses, charities, advocacy groups, and state or local government units between 1897 and 1980. The annotated filmography features repository information for some 350 titles as well as links to works viewable online. Also included are an introductory essay and name and subject indexes. The book is recommended for all interested in the history of advertising, industrial and sponsored films.

A free copy of the 152-page NFPF publication can be viewed and downloaded here.

You are warmly encouraged to download, use and reproduce these films in
whole or in part, in any medium or market throughout the world. You are
also warmly encouraged to share, exchange, redistribute, transfer and copy
these films, and especially encouraged to do so for free.

Any derivative works that you produce using these films are yours to
perform, publish, reproduce, sell, or distribute in any way you wish
without any limitations.

This statement of rights describes the rights granted to you so that you can use films from the online Prelinger collection at the Internet Archive.

Your right to use these films is granted by the Creative Commons Public Domain license when it appears on the "detail page" for a film. For details on this license, please click the Creative Commons license logo below.

Neither the Internet Archive nor Rick Prelinger can offer additional information regarding the rights to these films, or provide written license agreements. If you require a written license agreement or further information on the rights status of any Prelinger Collection titles, please see below.

Please be aware that:

-- the Creative Commons Public Domain license is the only license relating to films from the online Prelinger Collection;

-- the Internet Archive "Terms of Use" do not apply to the online Prelinger Collection;

-- the CC Public Domain license refers to the public domain status of the films, but not necessarily to every element that a film may contain;

-- and that other films, videos, texts and audio files hosted at the Internet Archive are not necessarily covered by the same license that governs the online Prelinger Collection. Please research these items individually if you wish to reuse any of them.

Descriptions, synopses, shotlists and other metadata provided by Prelinger Archives to this site are copyrighted jointly by Prelinger Archives and Getty Images. They may be quoted, excerpted or reproduced for educational, scholarly, nonprofit or archival purposes, but may not be reproduced for commercial purposes of any kind without permission.

If you require a written license agreement or need access to stock footage in a physical format (such as videotape or a higher-quality digital file), please visit our Stock Footage page. Neither Rick Prelinger nor the Internet Archive furnish written license agreements, nor do they comment on the rights status of a given film above and beyond this Creative Commons license.

Further information on works from Prelinger Archives can be found here. Questions should be directed to Rick Prelinger at Prelinger Archives, PO Box 590622, San Francisco, CA 94159-0622 USA.